Our house lets in water through the basement walls in the winter when the ground is frozen and it rains or when there is a downpour. The foundation's lower half is poured cement, upper half cement blocks. We put new gutters on two years ago and the water moves away from the house sufficiently. Also the grade is good. I would like to waterproof from the outside and I might need new drains. I have obtained 5 quotes. Each one different.
Answer:
You didn't mention whether or not you had storm sewers where your house is but my feeling is that you have them. I would want it excavated all the way around, patch whatever cracks there might be, apply an impermeable sheet from grade level down to the base of the footings, install new drainage tile (6" with sock and hooked up to the storm sewer) and then spread at least a foot and a half of gravel over that. The backfill could now be sand to within a foot or so from the top and then finish it off with top soil so you can have a nice garden there.
